SHAME! 3 Sisters Raped, Bodies Dumped in Well

Three sisters aged between six and 11 were raped and murdered before their bodies were dumped down a village well in Bhandara, Maharashtra

The ugly face of India (or Bharat? Guess we would have to ask our politicians this) resurfaces. Months after the ghastly incident of the Delhi gang-rape, three sisters aged between six and 11 were raped and murdered before their bodies were dumped down a village well in Bhandara district, about 65 km from Nagpur, the state's second capital in eastern Maharashtra. And fearing public anger and unfavourable law & order situation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan appealed for calm and cooperation and condemned the incident as "extremely deplorable and painful".

"The incident is extremely deplorable and painful. I appeal to the people to maintain calm and cooperate with the law-enforcers," Chavan said in a statement.

Chavan also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs.10 lakh to the family of three minor sisters.And before cries for the inaction of the local police could register, Home Minister R.R. Patil announced the suspension of Prakash Munde, chief of the Lakhni police station, under whose jurisdiction the crime was committed.

The girls-aged 6, 9 and 11-were subjected to unnatural sex, according to an autopsy. A manhunt has been launched against the unknown perpetrators."The bodies of the three young girls were found in a well, with their schoolbags and footwear.The post-mortem has confirmed that the girls were raped and then murdered" police superintendent Aarti Singh said.

Police have formed 12 special teams to probe the crime, which left union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel visibly stunned Tuesday after he visited the mother of the three girls at her home in Lakhni village, around 115 km from Bhandara town.

"As a father of three daughters, I am appalled at the atrocity committed on these girls. I have raised the matter with the chief minister to ensure financial assistance to the widow, speedy investigation and a fast track trial of the accused," Patel said.

According to officials, the three girls did not return from school last Thursday (Feb 14) and their mother lodged a missing complaint at the Lakhni police station.Two days later, some villagers discovered their brutalised bodies from a well near Murmadi, around three kilometres from their village, following which the local police registered a case of 'accidental death'.

It was only after the villagers took to the streets, blocked traffic and protested outside the police station that a case of murder, kidnapping and rape was lodged.Yes, even after so many protests, candle lit marches and public anger, all this is required to acknowledge the crime. God knows who the animals were who committed this heinous crime. The police may have a tough time finding them because they are not superheroes with . But so much inadequacy to even register the case makes us think that India's rape culture has yet to change. All in vain? We hope not.